Bombay High Court's Kolhapur Circuit Bench to Receive 75 Acres and 495 Permanent Staff
Maharashtra has allocated 75 acres of land at Shenda Park in Kolhapur and approved 495 permanent posts for the Bombay High Court's Kolhapur Circuit Bench, marking a major expansion of judicial infrastructure in western Maharashtra.
The Kolhapur Circuit Bench of the Bombay High Court is set for a significant institutional expansion after the Maharashtra Government allotted 75 acres of land at Shenda Park and approved 495 permanent staff posts. The announcement came as the Bench completed its first year of functioning.
75 Acres Allocated for the Kolhapur Bench
Maharashtra Government has allocated 75 acres of land at Shenda Park in Kolhapur for the circuit bench of the Bombay High Court. The Government has also approved the creation of 495 permanent posts exclusively for the Kolhapur Bench.
Acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court Ravindra V. Ghuge announced the development during the first anniversary celebration of the Kolhapur Bench.
Justice Ghuge said that considerable administrative effort had gone into securing sufficient land for the Bench. He referred to his discussions with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the need for additional land so that the long-term infrastructure requirements of the Bench could be addressed.
"Today, we have been allotted 75 acres of land. The land has been transferred on paper to the Bench. Additionally, 495 permanent posts are being created just for the Kolhapur High Court Bench."
Why Was the Kolhapur Circuit Bench Established?
The establishment of a High Court Bench at Kolhapur followed decades of demands from lawyers and litigants across western Maharashtra. The Bench serves litigants from six districts that are situated at considerable distances from Mumbai, where the principal seat of the Bombay High Court is located.
A study conducted during the tenure of former Bombay High Court Chief Justice Mohit Shah had recommended Kolhapur as a suitable location because it could serve six districts containing more than 50 talukas, many of which are located around 300 to 500 kilometres from Mumbai.
Legal Basis for the Circuit Bench
The Kolhapur Circuit Bench was constituted under Section 51 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, which provides for additional sittings of High Courts subject to the applicable constitutional and administrative requirements.
Important Background
- The notification for establishing the Circuit Bench at Kolhapur was issued on August 1, 2025.
- The Bench was formally inaugurated on August 17, 2025.
- It serves six districts of western Maharashtra.
- The Bench reportedly received around 15,000 cases in its first year.
- Nearly 13,000 cases were reported to have been disposed of during the same period.
Permanent High Court Bench Described as a Matter of Time
Former Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, who attended the anniversary function along with senior judges and law officers, expressed confidence regarding the future status of the Kolhapur Bench.
"I will not refer to this as circuit bench. It is a full-fledged functioning bench and having it as a permanent bench is only a matter of time."
Justice Gavai said that the Bench had improved access to justice for litigants living in the six districts falling within its jurisdiction.
He referred to the financial and practical burden faced by a small landowner from the borders of Ratnagiri or Solapur who previously had to travel to Mumbai to pursue litigation, sometimes involving relatively small parcels of land.
According to him, requiring such litigants to incur substantial expenses on travel, accommodation and litigation could undermine the broader objective of socio-economic access to justice. The establishment of the Kolhapur Bench has helped address that gap.
Bombay High Court Judge Strength May Also Increase
Justice Gavai also referred to a proposal to increase the sanctioned strength of judges of the Bombay High Court from 94 to 114. If approved, the increase may also result in the availability of additional judges for the Kolhapur Bench.
Judicial expansion: The proposal to increase the sanctioned strength of Bombay High Court judges could further strengthen judicial capacity at the Kolhapur Bench.
Call for Administrative and Tribunal Decentralisation
Concerns were also raised regarding revenue and tribunal cases for which litigants from the region may still need to travel to Pune or Mumbai.
Justice Gavai observed that decentralisation should not remain confined to High Court proceedings and said that justice and administration should increasingly become accessible at the local and taluka levels.
He urged Cabinet Minister and Kolhapur Guardian Minister Prakash Abitkar to support efforts for establishing a divisional commissionerate and relevant administrative tribunals in Kolhapur.
Judiciary and Executive Worked Together to Establish the Bench
Justice M.S. Karnik of the Bombay High Court recalled the speed at which both the executive and judiciary worked when the Kolhapur Bench was being established.
According to him, substantial work was completed within about a month, reflecting coordination between different institutions as well as strong support from the local Bar.
"We don't want the circuit bench to turn into a pretentious district court. We want to nurture it and make it as a full-fledged High Court."
Justice Karnik said that the enthusiasm shown by members of the local Bar gave him confidence that the Kolhapur Circuit Bench would grow into a strong judicial institution.
Nearly 13,000 Cases Disposed of in the First Year
Justice Sharmila Deshmukh, the senior-most judge presently at the Kolhapur Bench, highlighted the Bench's first-year performance during the anniversary programme.
She said that nearly 15,000 cases had been instituted during the first year and that almost 13,000 of those cases had already been disposed of.
"The establishment of this circuit bench has given life to the ideal we see in the Constitution - Justice for All."
What the Expansion Means for Western Maharashtra
The allocation of 75 acres and creation of 495 permanent staff posts indicate that the Kolhapur Bench is moving towards a larger and more permanent institutional setup.
For litigants from Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Solapur, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, the functioning of a High Court Bench closer to their districts can significantly reduce travel, accommodation costs and the logistical burden associated with litigation at Mumbai.
The first-year disposal figures also demonstrate the volume of litigation being handled by the Bench and the demand for decentralised High Court access in western Maharashtra.
Legal News Note: This article reports developments concerning judicial infrastructure and the Bombay High Court's Kolhapur Circuit Bench. Court notifications, government decisions and subsequent administrative developments may further determine the Bench's permanent status and infrastructure.
